POSTSCRIPTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 8

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

6Y PERCY FLACB

Better still, we should like to hear a broadcast of Lovelock's heart beat 3. when his best girl gives him the air. ••• ■ .',•■ '■' * : * ' Possibly Ron King did: not comment on the game on Saturday because tha result had left him breathless. ■ . . * ■-♦'■■•■• China wouldn't mind Japan giving her beans if they were only the Manchurian soya kind. .•■■■■■ • • •'.'•' We fear that.it would take, mora than a Harbour Board crane to lift the present burden of, taxation. , Italy and Germany, who s are doing so much to help the peace of : the world in Spain, are expected at any moment to protest, strongly-against the reported intervention of Soviet plane 3 to aid China. ' ■' / / ■ A NON-STARTER. To "Curious": No. • I am definitely not an applicant for one of the existing vacancies in the Legislative Council. And I could name at least four others who are not worrying about it either. # • • "NAUGHTY! Dear Flage,—Consequent upoa Zimmy's successful 163-mile swim, is there any truth in the rumour that Sir Harry Lauder has withdrawn his offer of £5000 for the first- man to swim the' Atlantic? We all. receive a great deal of. fun from Column 8, and wish you all the best in the future.—Yours laughingly, R.O.F. Petone. ♦ .■.■•'■ *■■ . SECOND TEST. Orchids to Nel. The N.Z.R.F.U. are now rubbiny their hands awaiting the 25th, Ten pairs of pants extra, and only one pair, required on Saturday. Were they bought on sale, or return? Rugby as a topic is now barred until September 25 ? ? ? The 'Boks must have played the right Brand of football. Captain King would have gone down as a genius had he pulled off ttfat vie* tory on Saturday. HOWITZER. ■ • ' ■ • ,■-.-* LAST WORD. Dear "Flage,"—With reference to tha paragraph in Thursday's "Post" referring to "Shark Tragedies,"- mention is made by your correspondent of my wife's late brother, Mr. R. P. Clark-' son, wherein he states that the body, was not recovered. This is incorrect. The facts are as follows: On April 3, 1909, he went in for his usual swim (being a strong and enthusiastic swimmer), and when out in the surf he was seized with cramp, and although a friend endeavoured to hold him1 up till assistance arrived, owing to his struggling, the friend had to let go, and the body evidently went out. to, sea and; was not recovered till Tuesday, the 7th of the following September. The body, when recovered* was mutilated, portion of one of the limbs evidently being taken by ■ sharks ' after death, but tha remains were interred in the old Napier Cemetery" "on Bluff Hill.—l remain, "Tay" and T.M.: Thanks for further particulars. *■• ■ . * SPRINGBOKS, -ATTENTION! During the Boer War, now happily; forgotten,' the British Army of Occupation plastered the walls of various' buildings with Proclamations (called' proklomatie in the "Taal," or Boer, ' language, now 'known as "Afrikaans"). The. posters were side by side in : English and Dutch, surmounted by the 1 Royal Arms with the initials V.R. oi the reigning Sovereign, Queen Vie. Two old Boer vrouws were reading • a Proklomatie when one, Having mas- , tered .the Afrikaans translation, wa3 ' still- mystified by the "V.R." Turning ' to a friend she said: "Ik kan niet Engels verstaan niet" (I can't understand ' English). "What 'do those letters ''V R' mean?" : Her move knowledge- ' able friend replied, "Oh, that means Verdomde Rooinek." . The point of the joke, is that thesa Boer words—damned red neck—were applied to all Britishers (Uitlanders), whether because, their necks were red with sunburn, or as a reference to the red collars of the old. military, tunics has never been decided, so fas as I know. Perhaps Mr. Nel can tell! SLIM JIM. Wanganui. ■ . ♦ • • - THE RUTHLESS AUTHOR. .Oh, godlike is the human sense Of weaving power and glory, In present, past, and future tense*, Of him who writes a story! Our heroine, that lovely maid, Who sets the rivals- sparring, ' What quaint mistakes by her dis«. <■ played, . L To save the scenes from jarring! j Our hero, of the frowning fate, ' That always ends in joyaunce, Who bears, from early hours til* late. Spites, wounds, and all annoyance, Yet never, never strikes his flag, ' Nor fails in love so faithful, When most his rival's sneering brag Has> led to quarrel scatheful! The villain, ah!— Now tell me, ys Who read from top to zero, Why do we in the "villain see More charms than in the* hero? Yet authors,, in creative power, With zeal for conquest smitten, Still drown or murder evil's flower. Like an unwanted kitten. All minor characters they shove ; About the chessboard inky; Last chapter—all triumphant love-*-Not true to life, tfut "dinky." . A.-

big ben:

: Dear Flage —I was ■ very interested in an article in your column of last Saturday's "Post", on the words set to the chimes of Big Ben. No doubt it is a beautiful verse, but is it correctly worded? Here is the-version taught, me very many years ago. •Ist quarter chime: . ;- Oh, Lord our God. 2nd quarter chime: ' ■■ Oh, Lord our God. • Be Thou our Guide, . 3rd quarter chime: Oh, Lord our God. Be Thou our Guide That, by Thy help 4th or full hourly chime: .V •* ' Oh, Lord our God. Be Thou our Guide That, by Thy help, No foot may slide. Doubtless there are: among you? many readers some who have more retentive memories or fuller, knowledge of the subject who could set us right if we err, and tell which, if either, or . peradventure, ; that neither of us is right. .Quien sabe? Yours sincerely, ... ' HEBER BROWJf, ; Kelburn.